TFBT: Randnom Notes from 4.CB22.1x

 

Iliad 17: 426 “The horses (Achilles) stood out of the fight and wept when they heard that their driver had been laid low by the hand of manslaughtering Hector. … they would neither go back to the ships by the waters of the broad Hellespont, nor yet into battle among the Achaeans; they stood with their chariot stock still as a pillar set over the tomb of some dead man  or woman and bowed their heads to the ground. Hot tears fell from their eyes as they mourned the loss of their charioteer (Patroclus)”  Just something beautiful to share.

Iliad17:119. Ajax knew the hand of the gods in this,

2CB22.1, Class-mate mateuszkulesza  says “While both Meleagros and Achilles share lots of similarities, the circumstances of each hero's actions make a decisive difference in how the story would be interpreted. Achilles, insulted by Agamemnon, chooses not to fight on the offensive. Meleaos, however, choses not to help DEFEND his people from the attackers. It is this distinction that, in my mind, justifies the actions of Achilles but makes those of Meleagros shameful. Agamemnon had to power to save the lives of all his men by simply going home. The attack of Meleagros' city, however, could not have been ended by a simple retreat. Meleagros, therefore, had the DUTY of absorbing his pride and taking action, Achilles only had that as an OPTION.”

 Lots of talk in CB22.1 of Achilles as a sprout in and orchard.  So check out; Lycophron, Alexandra 856 ff (trans. Mair) (Greek poet C3rd B.C.) from http://www.theoi.com:"The recesses of Lakinion (Lacinium) [in Italia] wherein a heifer [Thetis] shall fashion an orchard for the goddess Hoplosmia [Hera], furnished with trees. And it shall be for all time an ordinance for women of the land to mourn the nine-cubit hero [Akhilleus, Achilles], third in descent from Aiakos (Aeacus) [grandfather of Akhilleus] and Doris [Thetis' mother], the hurricane of battle strife, and not to deck their radiant limbs with gold, nor array them in fine-spun robes stained with purple - because a goddess [Thetis] to a goddess [Hera] presents that great spur of land [Lakinion] to be her dwelling-place."

 Iliad 17: 570 “for one of the best men among the Myrmidons was killed, radiant Epeigeus, son of noble Agakles who had once upon a time been king in the good city of Boudeion; but presently, having killed a valiant kinsman of his own, he took refuge with Peleus and silver-footed Thetis”  This is like the third of Achilles comrades who were killer of kinsmen.

TFBT: Random Notes from the Iliad

Iliad 9: 50 “Nestor the charioteer rose to speak. “Son of Tydeus,” said he, “in war your prowess is beyond question, and in council you excel all who are of your own years; [55] no one of the Achaeans can make light of what you say nor gainsay it,”  Talk about buttering someone up!

 Iliad 9: 192 “Meanwhile the two of them came in - radiant Odysseus leading the way.”  In the Embassy scene here, the ambassadors are Phoenix, Odysseus and Ajax.  I’ve heard in the Greek that Achilles is using the “dual” tense; in affect totally ignoring Odysseus.  Note that in the ensuing conversation Phoenix recites Agamemnon’s offer pretty much verbatim, while Odysseus paraphrases Achilles response.    To further the dual tense argument note Achilles parting words to Odysseus, 310 “ ... As hateful to me as the gates of Hades is one who says one thing while he hides another in his heart; therefore I will say what I mean.”  Quite a difference from Achilles greeting (to Phoenix and Ajax) [195] … “All hail and welcome …you, …are still dearest to me of the Achaeans.”

Iliad 15: 264 “as a horse, stabled and full-fed, breaks loose and gallops gloriously over the plain [265] to the place where he is wont to take his bath in the river - he tosses his head, and his mane streams over his shoulders as in all the pride of his strength he flies full speed to the pastures where the mares are feeding –“

Iliad 15:580 “as a dog springs on a fawn which a hunter has hit as it was breaking away from its covert, and killed it. Even so, O Melanippos, did stalwart Antilokhos spring upon you to strip you of your armor; but noble Hector marked him, and came running up to him through the thick of the battle.”  Why did Homer switch to the second person tense?

Iliad 15:615 “ Now, however, he kept trying to break the ranks of the enemy wherever he could see them thickest, and in the goodliest armor”  Do Greek Heroes have the same culture as Aztecs; look for someone of rank and noble equipage, when you enter the fray?

Iliad 15: 730 Here he stood on the look-out, and with his spear held back Trojan whom he saw bringing fire to the ships. All the time he kept on shouting at the top of his voice and exhorting the Danaans. “My friends,” he cried, “Danaan heroes, attendants of Ares, be men my friends, and fight with might and with main.  [735] Can we hope to find helpers hereafter, or a wall to shield us more surely than the one we have? There is no strong city within reach, whence we may draw fresh population to turn the scales in our favor. We are on the plain of the armed Trojans with the sea behind us,  [740] and far from our own country. Our salvation, therefore, is in the might of our hands and in hard fighting.”  Great speech by Ajax.